Boys’ Soccer: Eagles regroup, take title in OT

TOPSHAM – Robbie Small scored both goals, including the game-winner at 2:10 of the second overtime, as top-seeded Mt. Ararat advanced to the State Class A boys’ soccer championship with a 2-1 win over No. 2 Lewiston Thursday.

The Eagles will meet Scarborough for the state title.

Mt. Ararat mounted its scoring drive with just over a minute gone in the second sudden-death extra session when Blue Devils keeper Eric Soucy had to make a diving save off Will Hirnak, and Small’s rebound bid was blocked by a defender.

Mt. Ararat (15-1-1) retained possession, however, and was given a throw-in from the deep right side. Eric Bowie put it into the box, where Small headed it inside the far left post.

“I can’t take all the credit,” said Small, a sophomore striker. “Eric got the throw to me, and I was there at the right time.

“I was in the middle, so I knew the goalie would be there, so I just tried to direct it into the left side. One of my teammates was on my back, and if I had known he was there, I might have let him take it.”

Abdi Shariff-Hersi sent the game into overtime when he scored for Lewiston (13-2-2) with just 46 seconds remaining in regulation.

Doud Idow collected a throw-in and crossed to an unmarked Shariff-Hersi, who grounded the ball past a diving Gabe Pelletier inside the left post.

Asked what it was like to bounce back from a late goal, Small said, “Coach (Rick Renaud) said before overtime to go to our strengths — play the ball to the corners, make them deflect it out, and get throw-ins.”

Mt. Ararat had the best chance in the first overtime when Dylan Michaud passed a Brian Johnson throw-in from the left to Hirnak, whose shot just missed the far right post.

Lewiston carried play for most of the opening half, outshooting the Eagles 11-3 and Pelletier to block a point-blank shot.

Small put the hosts on the board at 12:07 of the second half on a play started by Griffin Stockford, who passed the ball up to Nate Santeramo on the right sideline.

Santeramo fed a charging Small at the edge of the box, and Small grounded a shot inside the far left post.

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